Tiscali Members: Top 10 online security myths

Think you're protected? Think again. We've debunked some of the most popular online security myths, so you'll know where you stand.

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Viruses aren't the only security threat so this is a bit like always locking the front door but leaving the windows wide open. For example, anti-virus software won't keep out evil hackers or certain types of spyware and it won't stop you falling for a con trick online like a phishing website or email.

Wrong again. Increasingly, corrupt hackers and criminals work hand-in-hand. Stealing your identity is a lot more profitable than stealing your television.

Anonymity is no protection. Criminals use automated tools to find potential victims. They can scan tens of thousands of computers an hour over the internet. It's like flicking through the phone book and ringing people up at random to see if they're home. You can find out more about who is targeted and how here.

A backup on its own won't protect you against anything. It's a bit like having a spare car in the garage at home in case you crash the one you're in. Also, unless you have a backup of your computer before any virus attack occurred, you'll only end up restoring data onto an infected computer, never mind that the data will date from the time you last did a backup and not the moment your PC crashed.

Insurance companies usually exclude virus attacks from their cover. Specialist cover is available for businesses but usually comes with a requirement for extra security. Policies vary, check yours to see what is covered.

Unfortunately, there are lots of ways for a virus to infect your computer. For example: via websites, directly over the internet, on disks or other removable media or by installing infected programs. Free software is also a risk as it can carry spyware as an unwanted extra. Spyware is designed to steal your ID.

If you can prove you were not responsible for a debt that was run up fraudulently using your stolen information, you will be reimbursed. If you cannot . . .

There is no compensation for the time and stress required to sort it out. It isn't pleasant when someone drives a bulldozer through your credit history. A typical case might take a week or more to put right but there are extreme examples of identity theft that have taken people months to straighten out. Find out where to get help if you've been affected by online ID theft.

There is no such thing as 'the internet police!'

The internet doesn't have borders and online criminals can use technology to conceal their identity. Even Interpol - the international policing body - found it's website hacked and turned into the hub of a phishing scam.

It can take 60 hours, on average, to sort out a case of identity theft and a couple of days to clean up a computer that has been infected with viruses and spyware. Moreover, seemingly inncocent activity can lead to problems without you even being aware of it. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

Some internet service providers (ISPs), like Tiscali, provide some elements of security such as scanning emails for viruses or providing you with a firewall, but you need to understand exactly what they do and, more importantly, what they don't do.

Some ISPs do nothing to protect you. Not only that, an ISP can do nothing to protect you from conmen or hoax emails. Assuming that your ISP is doing it all could be an expensive mistake. You really must have layers of security in place to be truly safe online. Norton Internet Security combined with Tiscali SpyGuard in addition to your Windows and router firewalls comes close to ensuring that your PC is truly safe.

While it is true that Mac and Linux-based systems suffer fewer attacks than PCs running Windows, that doesn't mean that they are invulnerable. For example, Apple rolls out security updates on a regular basis just like Microsoft. In addition, many internet frauds work whatever kind of machine you use.

Sanjit Chudha

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